I see this show as something of an Apprentice ripoff, as it has a lot of the same ideas. From the names of the "boss" being somewhat similar(N Paul Todd to Donald J Trump, official sounding names) to ridiculous challenges, I see some similarities. I wonder if perhaps Mark Burnett is behind this one as well? The reward was that the women came back to mattresses stuffed with $10,000 each, but the money made the women very uncomfortable. One even made the comment, "I doubt Apprentice would offer a prize like this."

The folks were fed fake hors'd'ouevres(sp?) and fake champagne, and Todd even asked the women about their love lives, which should have tipped someone off. Knowing that this whole thing is a scam, I was laughing the whole episode. Todd's not the real boss, and at some point he reveals who the real boss is, as they are "waiting behind double doors" for the proper time.

Similarities you get from Obnoxious Boss vs. Apprentice:

Teams were split up men vs. women, and a boss was chosen(ala a project manager on Apprentice).

Todd has two associates, Brenda(I think?) and David, just like George and Carolyn on Apprentice.

The idea of both is to raise money.

You're fired on Apprentice, and released on Obnoxious Boss.

As far as differences:

For one, the obvious is that Donald Trump is for real, and N Paul Todd is not.

If your team wins you get rewards. If your team loses, there are consequences. In tonight's case, it was having to sleep in basically a bum's alley.

The selected boss of each losing team gets to choose two to come back into Todd's office like Apprentice, but unlike Apprentice, the boss doesn't have to join them; he's exempt.

The person who survives Todd's office one week is automatically boss the following week, and therefore exempt from being "released".

This is the first time I've ever gotten in on the ground floor of a reality series, and I love it. I watch Survivor and Apprentice and Dream Job(on ESPN), but missed their first seasons.

Thanks ian , sounds like I missed a pretty good show . I thought it started at 10 I have no opinion on the show because i missed it but, I'm hoping for a recap ****

Found one ****

My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss - Episode 1 Meet The New Boss A Little Funnier Than The Old Boss

By Evan D. Baltz November 8, 2004 One half cup of flower, 2 tablespoons of paprika, 1 clove of garlic…oh sorry, just working on a recipe for dinner. Now for a reality television show recipe. 2 Cups of The Apprentice, 1/2 teaspoon of The Benefactor, 1/4 cup of The Rebel Billionaire, sprinkle lightly with Fear Factor and Joe Schmo. Sound appetizing? It may be, but as for now I will say it is still baking.

Fox's new show, My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss, is in some ways a spoof of the aforementioned shows, but claims also to be a real contest. Fake billionaire N. Paul Todd (played by actor William August) is the ego-centric uber-boss who in Trump like fashion tortures young plebes as they compete for a position in his company. Twelve wannabes meet their new master at a champagne and hors d'oeuvres gathering. They are told, and expect that the food is top quality. In fact it is cheap champagne from the local quick shop, and the pâté is spam. But the suck-ups, eager to please and be pleased proclaim the food and beverage very good and "obviously expensive."

Meanwhile, N. Paul Todd cruises the chicks asking each one what their love life is like.

The whole group is housed in a Chicago penthouse. Ah, the good life. Their first task as teams, women versus men, is to sabotage the other team by giving them a bad team name. Now I could immediately think of all kinds of good demeaning names. But I think the teams over thought this one. The women named the men ConCad. The men named the women Femron (I wonder if that would make the women working for the company Fembots? Hmmm.)

The group is herded into the dingy basement of a building and given the corporate wisdom, "Sometimes the keys to success are buried in a mound of crap." That sounds like Fox's primetime programming mantra. The next challenge will be for each group to panhandle (i.e. beg) on the streets of Chicago. The winning team will receive a reward. The losing team will meet N. Paul in the office.

Each team heads out. The men attempt to beg for some generic made up Chicago charity. The women use many different ideas, but focus on using their sex-appeal, and begging for money for a cheerleading camp. Why this inspires anyone to give, I have no idea. I guess it doesn't say much for the locals. A few of the women should have begged for money to have some lipo, or at least a membership at the local Curves.

Gathered under an elevated train, N. Paul tells the teams that the women have won the challenge with $334. The men's total was $312. So the women receive the "reward" which is to sleep on down-filled mattresses stuffed with money. The women get all excited. But then are told they don't get to keep the money, just sleep on it. The mattresses turn out to be quite uncomfortable. The men are forced to sleep like homeless people in cardboard tents.

In the boardroom, uh I mean office, N. Paul tells the guys they did a terrible job. They protest that the girls had the ability to use their sex appeal so it wasn't a fair challenge. He tells them they should have tried to use their sex appeal and perhaps gone after gay couples. The team leader is allowed to pick two other guys to come back into the office with him. He does. Then N. Paul sends the other fellows back to the penthouse, including the boss, telling him that in the real world the boss never has to take the blame.

The two remaining saps plead for their corporate lives as N. Paul demeans them. He then says he must go to the real boss and find out who to send home. When he comes back, he says the real boss has selected Daniel. "Get the hell out of my office."

Actor William August tells us that the real boss tells him who to eliminate but not why. We haven't been told yet who the real boss is but based on all those clues and the nature of the show, I am guessing it's a coin.

There were some fairly funny moments in the show. Seeing just how easily people will lie when they think money or fame is involved is a little troubling, but nonetheless fairly comical. We shall see as the show progresses whether or not it can consistently entertain on the level of Joe Schmo.

Now where was I? Oh yeah, 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon ginger…

Evan is a Web Designer and Corporate Training Specialist by day, and a Reality TV junky, author, and movie reviewer by night. You can write to Evan at realitytv@view2az.com

My question is- how do they keep straight faces? They should get the prize money just for doing that! Those producers have a lot of self control! I loved the show as well, especially when the contestants were eating blended up balogna and cheap wine...